Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Charlotte leads 16 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($312,800 vs $494,100)
7% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $266/mo less ($1,399 vs $1,665)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lakewood by $8,716/yr
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $8,716 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Violent Crime
7% lower
733.2 vs 787.2 per 100k
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$181k less
$312,800 vs $494,100
Charlotte
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Median Income
$8,716
$82,786 vs $74,070/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 16 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 16 and Lakewood wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Charlotte to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $494,100 median home), income ($74,070 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Lakewood, CO are about 1,363 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.